People who serve as judges, inspectors and clerks during elections in Carbon County will see a little increase in their compensation in May.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners and the election board approved a motion to increase the per diem wage for the election workers.

“The long hours that these people put in, polls open at 7 and close at 8 and they are in there well before, probably an hour or so before and more than an hour afterward … until they bring their returns back to the office,” Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said. “The previous salary, they were barely getting paid $10 an hour.”

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich added that this increase brings the per diem wage to close to the $11.16 hourly wage the county has been increasing new positions to on the county pay scale.

Judges of elections had been making $175 and inspectors, clerks was $140.

With the increase, judges will now receive $190 and inspectors, clerks will receive $155.

Lisa Dart, county elections director, said that judges will also receive compensation for dropping off equipment and mileage.